maloney



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. A. MALONEY & A. G. JOHNSON.

CONVERTIBLE TELEGRAPH KEY. No. 336,653. Patented Feb. 23, 1886.

A TTORNEYS N. PETERS. FhoRoI-iflmgraphar, Wnhinglon. llc.

eats-Sheet 2.

J. A. MALONEY 82; A. G. JOHNS OONVERTIBLB TELEGRAPH KEY.

I Patented Feb. 23, 1886.

(No Model.)

INVENTORS WITNESSES.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. MALONEY AND ANDREW G. JOHNSON, OF WASHINGTON, D. 0.;

SAID JOHNSON ASSIGNOR TO SAID MALONEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,653, dated February 23, 1886.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES A. MALONEY and ANDREW G. JoHNsoN, citizens of the United States, residing at Vvashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Telegraph-Keys; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to telegraph-keys, and has for its object the construction of an instrument which will overcome the objectionable feature which prevails in the keys in universal use-namely, that in their operation they are limited to one motion only, and

hand of the operator.

what is commonly known among them as loss of grip, and from this cause persons who by years of experience have become great experts in the art and of invaluable service to their employers are frequently disabled and wholly incapacitated for again resuming their wonted occupation. This disa' bility of the operator affects the hand somewhat similarly as cramp or partial paralysis, and is due to the fact that in the position in which he is required to hold his hand (palm downward) the hand is out of its natural position, and results in twisting the forearm and contorting the muscles between the wrist and the elbow. This twisted and contorted condition of the forearm and the muscles, together with the strain brought to bear upon them by operating the key, exhausts the strength of said parts of the arm and extends down into the hand and fingers, resulting in painful contortions of all of the muscles in said parts, renders the operator helpless, and sub jects him and his employer to serious losses.

By our invention the key may be changed from a vertical to a horizontal position, thus placing it on a plane coincident with that of the key-board or the table on which the instrument rests for the accommodation of a right-hand operator, or it maybe placed in a corresponding opposite position for a lefthand operator, or any operator may change it to either position to use either hand and rest the other. By this change of position of the key the arm is brought into a natural position, the palm of the hand being at right angles to the table, and the muscles of the forearm entirely free from any contortion, while the hand is free to operate the instrument at the expenditure of the minimum of muscular force.

Ourinvention will hereinafter be described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our invention; Fig. 2, a plan 5 'Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are cross-sections on the dotted lines 1 1, 2 2, and 3 3, respectively, in Fig. 2.

Reference being had to the drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, A represents a board upon which the instrument is mounted.

B is the key, made in two parts, a b, between which is interposed a spring, 0, the object of the latter being to render the key very sensitive and to' impart to it a degree of resiliency to return it to its normal position after each stroke produced by the hand of the operator. The section b of the key is provided with a journal, d, which is fitted to a corresponding journal-bearing, e, formed in the post 0, which is attached to the board A by means of a screw, f. A screw, h, provided with an enlarged head, i, which bears against the rear side of the post 0, isinserted into the end of the journal (Z and securely holds the parts together. A set-screw, k, secures the key in either one of the three positions it is adapted to assume.

D is a frame or yoke, attached to the board A by means of a screw, Z, and through which the key B passes, and is provided with screws m m m, for regulating the stroke of the key.

E is an arc-shaped frame race or guide, also secured to the boardAby suitable means, and forms a bearing-surface for a cushioningspring, at, which is held in position by a cup,

passes through the forward sections of the key B. By adjusting the pin 9 any desired cush- 0, attached to an adjustable pin, 1), which ioning effect may be imparted to the spring n, and the arc-shaped frame performs its function in either position of the instrument.

F is an arm or frame, pivotally secured to the board by means of a pin, g, which supports one of the opposite contacts or anvils,1', while an arm, 8, projecting at right angles to the frame, supports another opposite contact or anvil, t, both of which are adapted to be struck by the contact or hammer to, which projects from one side of the key B. The frame F is adapted to be swung into opposite positions to accommodate either a right or left hand operator or either hand of any operator when the key is in a corresponding horizontal position. The frame F is held in either position by a screw, 12, which passes loosely through an aperture in the horizontal arm of the frame and engages with the board A. The key is pro vided with the usual button or knob, G, which is secured thereto by the screw w, which carries the contact or hammer it, which projects from one side of the free section of the key.

H II represent binding-posts of ordinary construction.

H represents a circuitcloser, and differs from the one in use at present in that it closes the circuit through the binding-posts or connection direct, thereby short circuiting the key, so that its position may be'changed without experiencing a shock.

The several parts of the instrument being constructed substantially as described, the operation is as follows: The key being in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, it is operated in the usual manner. Nhen the operator tires of this position, the screws on in the frame D and the screw 76 in the post 0 are slackened and the key turned one-fourth of a revolution toward the right, which will put it in the position shown by the button in full lines in Fig. 4 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The screws m and 7c are then again adjusted, when the instrument will be in position for using the right hand, and will enable the operator to hold his hand in a perfectly natural position, palm at right angles to the table, the forearm free from any twist and the muscles from contortion.

To adapt the instrument for the use of the left hand, in changing the key from a Vertical stroke it is turned one-fourth of a revolution in the opposite direction, or toward the left. The frame F, carrying the opposite contact or anvils, is then reversed and secured, when the instrument will be in the position shown in.

- Fig. 2, and, as in the former instance, ready for work.

"We do not limit the scope of our invention to the precise details of construction herein shown and described, as various changes may be made therein, which will present themselves to the skilled artisan, so long as they do not depart from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- I. In a telegraph-key, a lever having a journal formed on one end, whereby it is adapted to revolve and to be operated vertically or horizontally, substantially as described.

2. In a telegraph-key, a lever having a j ournal formed on one end, in combination with a suitable bearing, whereby the lever is adapted to revolve and to be operated vertically or horizontally in opposite directions, substantially as described.

3. In a telegraph-key, alever having a journal formed on one end in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with a post having a bearing formed therein, substantially as described. 7

4. In a telegraph key, alever having a journal formed on one end, in combination with a suitable bearing and a retaining device for holding the journal to its seat in the bearing, substantially as described.

5. In atelegraph-key, a lever formed in two sections arrangedin the same lineal plane, one of which is fixed and the other free, and provided with an interposed spring connecting the sections, substantially as described.

6. In a telegraph-key, a lever having ajournal formed on one end in the plane of its longitudinal axis,and provided with a spring between its fixed and free ends, substantially as described.

7. In a telegraph-key, alever formed in two sectionsmonnected in the same plane, one of which is provided with a journal in theplane of its longitudinal axis and the other with a contact-point, and an interposed spring connecting the sections, in combination with a suitable journal-bearing and an opposite contactpoint, substantially as described.

8. In a telegraph-key, a lever having ajournal formed 011 one end thereof in the plane of its longitudinal axis, and provided with a contact-point, in combination with a bearing for the journal and a vertical and horizontal anvil or opposite contact-point, substantially as described.

9. In a telegraph-key, a leverjournaled to rotate in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with a horizontal anvil or opposite contact-point secured to a reversible frame whereby a'single lever is adapted for right or left hand operation, substantially as described.

10. In a telegraph-key, a lever journaled to rotate in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with a pivoted frame carrying a vertical and a horizontal anvil or opposite contactpoint, substantially as described.

11. In a telegraph-key, a lever journaled to rotate in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with an adjustable cushion interposed between the lever and a supporting frame or race, substantially as described.

12. In a telegraph-key, a leverjournaledto rotate in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with a cushion interposed between the lever, and a supporting frame or race having projecting arms whereby it is assess 3 adapted to cushion the lever when operated vertically or horizontally, substantially as described.

13. In atelegraph-key, a flexible lever journaled to rotate in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with an adjustable cushion interposed between the lever and a supporting-frame, substantially as described.

14. In a telegraph-key, a lever journaled to rotate in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with an arc-shaped frame or race, and a spring interposed between the lever and the frame, substantially as described.

15. In a telegraph-key, a lever journaled to rotate in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with an arc-shaped frame or race the ends of which project upward from the key-board, a cup connected to the arm,and an inclosed spring which rests upon the frame, substantially as described.

16. In a telegraph-key, the combination of a lever journaled in the plane of its longitudinal axis, a reversible frame carrying an anvil or opposite contact-point, and a cushioninterposed between the lever and a supporting the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with a yoke or frame through which the lever passes, and provided with set-screws on top and both sides to limit the movement of the lever, substantially as described.

20. In a telegraph-key, a lever journaled in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with a locking device engaging with the journal, a yoke,and adjustable screws to limit the movement of the lever, substantially as described.

21. In a telegraph-key, a lever journaled in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with a locking device, a yoke having vertical and horizontal screws to limit the movement of the lever, and a cushion or pressure spring, substantially as described.

22. In a telegraph-key, a lever j ournaled in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with a yoke surrounding the lever and provided with screws to limit its movement, a frame carrying opposite contact-points, and a cushioning device between the lever and a frame or race, substantially as described.

23. In a telegraph-key, a lever journaled to rotate in the plane of its longitudinal axis, in combination with vertical and horizontal opposite contact-points, and a switch connected to the binding-posts, whereby the operating parts are short-circuited when the switch is closed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. MALONEY. ANDREW o. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

MYRoN M. PARKER, CHARLES G. SIMoNs. 

